Dr. Charles
Matthews served as Secretary of Evangelism of the Southern Baptist
Convention from 1947-1955. In 1951 his book, Every Christian’s Job,
was published. His desire was that this book would serve to help convince
multitudes of individual Christians and churches that it is their duty and
privilege to lead lost people to Christ as Savior.1

I read about
Daniel Webster, the famous American politician, orator and statesman
spending a summer with family in New Hampshire. Every Sunday he would
attend church. A niece asked him why he went to their small church every
Sunday when he seldom attended one of the large churches in Washington.
He replied, “In Washington they preach to Daniel Webster, the statesman,
but your pastor has been telling Daniel Webster, the sinner, about Jesus
of Nazareth.” This needed to be the message in Daniel Webster’s day, and
it needs to be the priority message of our day. Dr. Matthews’s challenge
that introducing lost sinners to Jesus is “Every Christian’s Job” is as
fresh and meaningful as if it were made today!

Dr. R.G. Lee,
who served as pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church, Memphis, Tennessee from
1927 to 1960, was in complete agreement with the challenges of Dr.
Matthews and other great contemporary Southern Baptist leaders who were
leading pastors and churches to awaken to the priority of witnessing to
the multitudes of lost people. Many pastors and churches accepted the
challenge which resulted in what many have called, “The Golden Years of
Southern Baptist Growth.”

One only needs
to know a little about the long and fruitful ministry of Dr. Lee at
Bellevue Baptist Church to know that he set the example personally, and
led his dedicated church staff and hundreds of committed leaders to
practice the basic principle of growing a “Great Commission Church.” He
realized the need to express concern and compassion for lost people. He
led his church to focus on a strong evangelistic ministry. Dr. Lee, as
much as was humanly possible, seemed to emulate the compassion of Jesus
for lost persons as demonstrated in Matthew 9:35-38. Under the
supernatural power of God, and using proven principles of reaching people,
Dr. Lee led Bellevue Baptist Church to become a model for evangelistic
growth all across the Southern Baptist Convention. In his book, Seven
Swords, is a chapter entitled, “We Persuade Men.” In this chapter he
stresses the absolute necessity of sharing the Gospel with lost people.
The following statements indicate the priority that Dr. Lee placed on
witnessing (soul-winning). “Knowing the terror of the Lord, we should
persuade men as a lover wooing to win hand and heart . . . persuade them
as a lawyer arguing for a verdict . . . persuade them as a mother begs her
son to turn from evil . . . .”2

Jesus clearly
stated His priority for ministry in Luke 19:10. Jesus performed many
mighty ministries during His time on earth. However, his priority was to
persuade lost people to come to Him for salvation. Jesus has commissioned
all true believers to follow His plan for reaching people. His plan
called for prayer, compassion, concern, commitment and dedication to the
task. See John 20:21; Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 1:8.

In Mark 2:1-12 we read of four men who
realized the importance of bringing people to Jesus. The four men
probably lacked much in having a full understanding of witnessing as we
understand the teaching of the scriptures, but they present some great
examples that Christians today need to follow.

Pastors in preaching from this text
have used many topics including: “Four Characteristics of Soul-Winning,”
“Carried By Four,” “Lessons From the Four,” “The Business of Bringing Men
to Jesus.” I have chosen as the topic for this message, “Four Men
Witnessing Through Creative Obedience.”

In this passage we see how four men
overcame tremendous obstacles in bringing a friend to Jesus. Rather than
doing a verse by verse study of the text, I ask that you consider with me
some spiritual truths gleaned from this passage that can apply to
individual Christians and churches today.

Observe four areas of outstanding
examples that these men provide: The Example of Loving Concern, The
Example of Cooperation, The Example of Creativity, and The Example of
Commitment.

I.
The Example of Loving Concern

This well known text tells about a paralyzed
man, four friends who wanted to take him to Jesus, and Jesus who had
returned to Capernaum to preach. We don’t know who the paralytic was, but
we do know he was a man without Jesus. We also know that he experienced
the glorious touch of Jesus and his sins were forgiven, he was healed of
the affliction that troubled him.

We don’t
know who the four men were, but we know they had a loving concern for this
man who was helpless to go to the house where Jesus was preaching. The
fact that these four men could and would work out their schedule and spend
this much time to minister to someone speaks volumes about their love and
concern. We don’t know the conditions that led to their relationship with
this man, but the truth is they cared enough to spend time and energy to
bring him to Jesus.

Psalm
142:4 says, “I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no
man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.”
The paralyzed man could no longer say, “No man cares for my soul.” He was
about to experience a great blessing because four men showed their loving
concern. In so doing they have provided for us a tremendous example of
loving concern.

II.The
Example of Cooperation

In addition to the example of loving concern,
this scripture passage provides for us a great example of cooperation. I
like to use my imagination and try to visualize what might have been going
through the minds of the four men as they discussed how they could get
this paralyzed man to Jesus. One may have said, “If we will all work
together we can figure out a way.” Another may have said, “Hey! I know
what—let’s just take him on his bed roll.” As they considered this idea,
they must have agreed that each one would take a corner of the bed roll
and take him through the streets across Capernaum to the house where Jesus
was preaching.

As one reflects on this experience, it is
clear that it was a monumental task. It would have been impossible for
one person to take this man to Jesus. However, what one person could not
do, was easily done by four men working together in a spirit of
cooperation.

A four-legged stool or table can have many
uses. However, remove one or two legs and its usefulness is greatly
impaired! For maximum usefulness all four legs are needed. It is also
true that in order for a church to attain its full potential in reaching
lost people all members need to be committed to personal witnessing. See
Matthew 9:37-38.

Cooperation is essential in Christian work
today if we are to be successful in accomplishing “the unfinished task.”
Whether it’s the local church seeking to reach the community for Christ,
the North American Mission Board reaching North America, or the world-wide
ministry of the International Mission Board—cooperation is essential
for success. What cannot be done alone, can be gloriously
accomplished as we serve together through loving concern and cooperation.

III. The
Example of Creativity

Having examined how these four men provide
great examples of loving concern and cooperation, I invite you to now
consider their example of creativity. When the four men arrived at the
house where Jesus was preaching they noticed the large crowd outside the
door. The people had overflowed outside. The scripture suggests the
crowd was packed so tight that it would be hard for anyone to get through
to the door.

The four men must have tried to get the
people to open up space for them to get through with their friend.
However, the crowd did not move. They had to make a decision concerning
what to do. These men had made a specific effort to bring their friend to
Jesus. They were not about to give up. The trip across town may have
taken a long time, they may have missed a day of work and they surely did
not want to fail.

Like most houses in Palestine, this house
probably was small with a flat roof and a stairway on the outside leading
to the roof. Most of the roofs in houses of this type were constructed
with wooden beams covered with thatch and compacted earth. Some houses of
this type might have tiles placed between the beams.

When they discovered there was no way to get
in the door, they decided to go up the outside stairs to the roof. Then
they dug up the thatch and earth or removed the tiles (see Luke 5:19), and
lowered their friend to the floor in front of Jesus. Verses 5-12 are
filled with many meaningful truths, but for the sake of the emphasis of
this message, note that Jesus not only healed the paralyzed man—but also
forgave his sins.

Many lessons can be learned from this
experience. I believe it is vitally important to understand in today’s
society the absolute necessity for churches to be creative in their
approach to reaching the lost. We must pray much, and work hard, but also
be willing to do whatever God directs in the areas of reaching the lost
and developing the saved. There are many exciting methods to share the
unchanging Gospel message. These four men taking their friend to Jesus
are wonderful examples of loving concern and cooperation as well as
effective creativity. A good lesson for us today!

IV. The
Example of Commitment

All the examples of these four men were
important, but without commitment their mission would have failed. The
four friends did not stop. They didn’t find excuses as to why they could
not be there on that particular day to take their friend to Jesus. When
the crowds prevented them from getting in the presence of Jesus they did
not give up. They were committed to this special ministry in terms of
time, energy and cost. Why cost? It’s very likely that they may have
missed a day of work and thereby gave up much needed earnings.

In my
opinion these men were living out Paul’s challenge to the Galatians when
he said in Galatians 6:9, “And let us not be weary in well doing: for
in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” The NIV says, “. .
. we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” What a promise!
Their commitment led these four men to believe that there were no
impossible cases with Jesus (Matthew 19:26). Although the paralyzed man
was seriously sick and did not know Jesus as his Savior, these men
believed Jesus could change him, transform him, and make him whole.

Conclusion

Life
offers many opportunities to experience thrills. Some of these include:
young people and their first real date, their first car and their high
school graduation. Older people can remember the thrill of their wedding
day, the birth of their first child, or getting their dream job.

But let
me remind us as Christians that the greatest joy and excitement comes when
one has the opportunity to lead a lost person to call upon Jesus for
forgiveness and salvation. Andrew must have been overjoyed when he found
his brother, Simon Peter, and brought him to Jesus (see John 1:41-42).

Dr. R.G.
Lee quotes a fellow pastor who said, “Better to be a sexton of a small
church on a small salary knowing how to point men to the Lamb of God that
taketh away the sins of the world than to be the most eloquent preacher
that ever graced any pulpit without that knowledge.”3

Yes, I
believe Dr. Charles Matthews’s challenge made years ago is as up-to-date
as the morning newspaper. It is important today that pastors and church
leaders help their congregations to understand that witnessing to the lost
is “Every Christian’s Job.” Dr. R.G. Lee was right during his
thirty-three years as pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church to stress the
absolute necessity of sharing the Gospel with lost persons.

Dr. L.R.
Scarborough once said, “to refuse to witness a saving Gospel to a lost
world day by day is nothing short of high treason, spiritual rebellion,
and inexcusable disobedience to His holy commands.” Strong words? Yes,
but they line up with the challenge of Jesus who said, “For the Son of
Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).
Just prior to His return to heaven Jesus said in Acts 1:8, “. . . And
ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in Judea, and in
Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

I
believe all Christians should prepare themselves to be able to follow the
strong command of Jesus as given in Acts 1:8. This has always been the
plan of Jesus for Christians. However, for many reasons, it seems to this
writer that there is a greater urgency than ever before to follow the
command which Jesus gave to all believers to witness to the multitude of
lost people.

The
familiar text of this message provides some tremendous examples that, if
followed, can enhance one’s Christian witness. When one develops a
personal spirit of loving concern, cooperation, creativity, and
commitment, he or she will be able to witness much more effectively even
in the midst of difficulties.

I close
with a question and an answer. The question is simple, but very
important. It is asked by Robert Dean in The Hershel Hobbs Commentary
(Fall 2001, Vol. 2). Dr. Dean asks, “Why should we tell the good news?”
He answers by saying, “There is a call from outside, based on the
fact that those without Christ are lost. There is a call from inside,
based on the debt we owe because we have heard the good news and everyone
deserves to hear it. There is a call from above, because Christ is
the only way of salvation. There is a call from the future, based
on the shortness of the time to decide.”4

Please
join with me in a personal prayer of commitment: “ Lord, give me a burden
for the lost, help me to clearly hear the call to witness, and help me to
be willing to practice creative obedience when facing difficult
situations. In Jesus’ name and for His sake. Amen.”

Dr. Paul E. Williams retired in August
of 2001 as Director of Supervised Ministries at UnionUniversity. Previous ministries
include: pastor of FirstBaptist Church, Somerville, TN; pastor of
Englewood Baptist Church in Jackson, TN, associate pastor of
Highview Baptist Church, Louisville, KY and Director of
the Adult Division of the Sunday School Department of the Tennessee
Baptist Convention. He and his wife Mildred have two grown daughters
and two grandchildren.